Hello CQD, Is it ok to use FMC behind Sheetrock on a concrete wall to an outlet? The concrete wall has 3/4 inch furring strips. Scott Bosch
View Question & Answer

May 18, 2020

Good Day Code Friends, can I install 3 #6 and 1 #8 stranded cu. in a 1" conduit to feed a swimming pool? Cameron Davis
View Question & Answer

May 15, 2020

Re: Code Question of the Day for 05-11-2020 Multiple Comments on the Code Question of the Day for 05-11-2020. The comments did identify the oversight and the lack of addressing the intent of the question which was can I strip the sheath off the conductors and install them as individual conductors. Here are the comments that were submitted. Comment: In reference to May 8th code question. Aside from the question on ampacity, the stripping of nm cable (a listed assembly) and using as individual conductors would not be code compliant due to the required marking of conductors per 310.120. In other words, those conductors are not intended for use as individual conductors. Jeffrey Reynolds Comment: Thanks for your column Thank you for your valuable service to our industry. Regarding the question of removing the sheath from NM cable and installing it in conduit using the higher temperature rating: the simpler answer is that you cannot remove the sheath from NM cable and use the conductors. The required markings on the NM sheath not on the individual conductors. If you remove the sheath you have removed the required markings. Don Haskin Comment: Good morning! The question asks if you can take the conductors out of NM and use them in a conduit, and the answer is no. Conductors in NM cable are not marked with the required information and cannot be used if taken out of the overall NM sheath. Thanks, Chris Hunter Comment: You missed addressing the concept of stripping the sheath off of an NM-B cable and using the conductors as individual conductors. Matthew Hermanson Comment: Good day. I read the CQD every day and appreciate the valuable resource in answering the wide variety of questions. The answer to the question published May 11 for the May 8 question left out a very important part. The question was could 6/2 NM cable be stripped, and the individual conductors installed in a piping system and use the 75C ampacity? The conductors used to make NM cables are required to have a 90C rating by the UL standards and as stated in the response are limited to application at 60C by 334.80. These conductors are not listed or marked conductors within the cable assembly. The removal from the outer NM jacket to install in the conduit would now have uncertified conductors being installed. That is why, even when sleeving in conduit, the jacketed conductor has to have the jacket intact and protruding into the box or enclosure 1/4 inch. Thanks again for all you do, and I look forward to each day's question and answer. Chuck Mello Comment: If I understand the question for Friday May 8th, they want to strip out 6/2 non-metallic sheathed cable. Once the outer sheathing has been removed along with all listing, nomenclature/identification, what inspector would allow unidentified wire in any piping, raceway or trough? Keep up the great work. Bob Meade
View Question & Answer

May 14, 2020

Greetings Code Friends, My question is if I have a metal outlet box and equipment grounding conductors in the box, do I have to connect the EGC to the box using a listed green grounding screw? Mel Easterly
View Question & Answer

May 13, 2020

Thanks for the Code Question of the Day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this has been a useful forum for me. So, I thought I would submit a question. Can a splice be made in a panelboard? Some say this is a violation. Any guidance would be great. Thank you, Eric Summers
View Question & Answer

May 12, 2020

Hello, I have a temporary power pole and the inspector just red tagged my installation and stated that I cannot terminate two grounding electrode conductors to a ground rod using the same, single grounding clamp. Is this a violation of the Code, if so, what section applies. Thanks, Issac Small
View Question & Answer

May 11, 2020

Follow up to code question for 4/15/20 : Hello, I have done hundreds of 100- & 200-amp services and in the area served by PECO ( greater Philadelphia area ) they are the ones that insisted that the service disconnect be installed within 10 feet of where service cable enters building. Was told to was due to no overcurrent protection outside of the 13,200-volt primary fuse on utility step down transformer. Tom Grabowsky
View Question & Answer

May 8, 2020

Hello NEC Friends, Like all state, thanks for the code of the day. This question is a caveat to today’s question, does the code allow you to say strip out 6/2 NM and use it in a piping system but now use the 75 C column for 65 amps instead of the 60C at 55 amps. Thanks, and best to all during these trying times. Be a good neighbor and citizen.Butch Gosselin
View Question & Answer

May 7, 2020

Hello Code Nuts, I have a simple question. What is the minimum size equipment grounding conductor needed for a 15,000-volt, 3-phase, 100-ampere feeder? The system is a single-point grounded system. Each of the cables in the feeder have a copper tape shield that appears to be okay to use for this purpose. Is that acceptable? Any guidance would be very helpful, before we pull the feeder conductors into the duct bank raceways. Jim Tracey
View Question & Answer

May 6, 2020

Greetings Code Question Staff, Friday April 10th Question on the 120/240 Delta high-leg system. ANSI standard requires meter bases to use B phase for their operating voltage, which is 120 volts they will not work properly with a 208 to ground B phase. The B phase being the high voltage to ground and being marked orange did not appear in the NEC until 1975 most installations in our area before 1975 have the C phase as the high leg throughout the entire system and is marked red. Jimmy Cagle
View Question & Answer

May 5, 2020

Comment on Friday April 10 Question on the 120/240 Delta high-leg system. HI CQD folks, thanks for your work. I still enjoy it more than 5 years after retirement! Regarding Friday April 10th question. In San Francisco, high leg is colored purple and on the B leg. Utility requires high leg on C at the meter. As an inspector, I required transitioning from C to B at the service after the meter section. When the NEC started requiring high leg to be orange, we had a dilemma. What is the safest way to proceed? We decided to keep purple to be more consistent with existing systems. David Green
View Question & Answer

May 4, 2020

Hello Code Question of the Day, I'm installing a outdoor hot tub. How close or far away must the GFI be placed? Richard Mikolajczyk
View Question & Answer

May 1, 2020

Hello, What size grounding electrode conductor would be required for a 4 Plex service with 4 100 amp mains? Thanks for any help you might be able to provide. James Sacry
View Question & Answer

April 30, 2020

Greetings Code Question of the Day, Here is my question. If a room has a floor drain does it require gfi protection? Alfred Harris
View Question & Answer

April 29, 2020

Comment on Code Question of the Day for 04-08-2020. In our fair City of White Plains, NY, we require all "Low Voltage" work to file permits. We do not require licensing. The permit allows us to inspect the install to the various articles and sections of the NEC. We are currently on the 2014 edition with an upgrade to the 2017 on May 12th. Getting back to the requirement, our view is if it is in the NEC, then we have the right to inspect. (Article 110, 800 etc.) Richard Mecca
View Question & Answer

CHARLIE TROUT:Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally recognized NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006, Charlie was awarded NECA’s prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development and technical training. NECA continues to provide this public forum in memory and recognition of all his fine contributions that has made the NEC what it is today.

This correspondence is not a formal interpretation of the NEC® and any responses expressed to the questions are opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of NECA, NFPA, the NEC Correlating Committee any Code-making panel or other electrical technical committee. In addition, this correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services.